PublicPayData

2025 pay · 17 official sources

How much do California public employees make?

$86,865typical pay in 2025 for California state government employees

$57,289 – $121,901what most people earned

Official pay records for 2,246,334 people at 4814 employers.

✓ Official data from 17 agencies · Matches each agency's latest release · Show sources

Pay by employer

Typical pay counts everyone paid during 2025. Poll workers and other short, seasonal roles (typical pay under $5,000) are listed last. Select an employer for jobs, names and more.

Pay by type of employer

Typical pay for everyone paid, grouped by the kind of employer. Select a type to see each employer.

State agencies by what they do

What stands out in California

Employers whose pay looks different from others like them, with the comparison spelled out.

Most common jobs

Typical pay for each job in California, 2025. Select a job to see where people do it and how pay varies.

Pay by job group

Typical pay for related jobs grouped together, such as police, fire and security. Select a group to see each job.

Highest paid in California State Controller's Office, 2024

    Highest paid in California state government, 2025

      Highest paid in California State Controller's Office, 2025

        Highest paid in California state government, 2025

          Highest paid in California State Controller's Office, 2025

            Highest paid in California State Controller's Office, 2025

              Highest paid in California state government, 2025

                Highest paid County of Los Angeles employees, 2025

                1. 1Jose A GarciaDeputy Sheriff · Los Angeles County$2,707,025
                2. 2Maria I RodriguezLieutenant Public Defender · Los Angeles County$2,353,315
                3. 3Maria D GarciaAssistant Division Manager Program Reg-Rec/Co Clerk · Los Angeles County$2,119,912
                4. 4Maria I LopezDeputy Probation Officer II Field · Los Angeles County$2,038,018
                5. 5Maria L GonzalezNurse Manager · Los Angeles County$1,991,405
                6. 6Jose L HernandezCaptain · Los Angeles County$1,972,070
                7. 7Jose E GonzalezLieutenant · Los Angeles County$1,891,900
                8. 8Carlos HernandezFire Captain (56 Hours) · Los Angeles County$1,701,250
                9. 9Daniel A GonzalezDeputy Sheriff · Los Angeles County$1,668,245
                10. 10Jose L GomezBattalion Chief// (56 Hours) · Los Angeles County$1,578,523

                Highest paid in California State Controller's Office, 2025

                  Highest paid City of Los Angeles employees, 2025

                  1. 1Nicholas FerrariFire Battalion Chief · Los Angeles$948,271
                  2. 2Peter HsiaoFire Assistant Chief · Los Angeles$786,469
                  3. 3John BetzChief Port Pilot · Los Angeles$772,736
                  4. 4Scott HiltonFire Battalion Chief · Los Angeles$713,908
                  5. 5John AckermanGeneral Manager Airports · Los Angeles$710,577
                  6. 6Daniel RandolphNot Listed · Los Angeles$695,446
                  7. 7John DwyerChief Port Pilot · Los Angeles$684,930
                  8. 8Justin JabukaPort Pilot II · Los Angeles$658,690
                  9. 9Martin MullenFire Battalion Chief · Los Angeles$631,655
                  10. 10Jason GetchiusFire Battalion Chief · Los Angeles$625,167

                  Highest paid San Francisco city and county employees, 2026

                  1. 1Scott NeuDeputy Sheriff · San Francisco$1,488,810
                  2. 2Kevin LeeCaptain 3 · San Francisco$1,470,930
                  3. 3Jose HernandezDeputy Sheriff · San Francisco$1,368,847
                  4. 4Alan WongCaptain Fire Suppression · San Francisco$1,129,041
                  5. 5Eric ChanSenior Psychiatric Physician Specialist · San Francisco$1,076,220
                  6. 6John MurphySergeant 3 · San Francisco$1,070,670
                  7. 7Michael NguyenPolice Officer 3 · San Francisco$997,410
                  8. 8Ana GonzalezSup Psychiatric Physician Specialist · San Francisco$972,332
                  9. 9William WongFirefighter · San Francisco$931,321
                  10. 10Nicholas BuckleySergeant 3 · San Francisco$884,646

                  Highest paid in California state government, 2025

                    Highest paid City of San Jose employees, 2025

                    1. 1Spencer PiercyFire Engineer · San Jose$627,120
                    2. 2Galvin CharekianFire Captain · San Jose$572,533
                    3. 3John BargPolice Lieutenant · San Jose$565,328
                    4. 4Nora FrimannCity Attorney U · San Jose$532,791
                    5. 5David GutierrezFire Captain · San Jose$528,176
                    6. 6Martin MoraFire Engineer · San Jose$506,897
                    7. 7Jared PetersonPolice Officer · San Jose$495,002
                    8. 8Joshua ThomasFire Engineer · San Jose$480,712
                    9. 9Jennifer MaguireCity Manager U · San Jose$478,663
                    10. 10Michael WhitePolice Lieutenant · San Jose$478,107

                    Highest paid County of San Mateo employees, 2025

                    1. 1Name WithheldDeputy Sheriff · San Mateo County$4,448,790
                    2. 2Michael P CallagyCounty Executive Officer - Unclassified · San Mateo County$589,429
                    3. 3Cameron D QuanbeckPsychiatric Specialist Hospital Inpatient - Unclassified · San Mateo County$568,765
                    4. 4Katalin A SzaboMedical Director · San Mateo County$563,352
                    5. 5Tasha L SouterMedical Director · San Mateo County$546,916
                    6. 6Nasrin BashiriChild Psychiatrist · San Mateo County$544,171
                    7. 7Chester J KunnappillyChief Executive Officer Sm Medical Center - Unclassified · San Mateo County$517,150
                    8. 8Brian A MooreSheriff's Sergeant · San Mateo County$510,861
                    9. 9Karen LiPsychiatric Specialist Hospital Inpatient - Unclassified · San Mateo County$508,683
                    10. 10Toni SkevaDeputy Sheriff · San Mateo County$493,981

                    Highest paid in California State Controller's Office, 2025

                      Highest paid City of Richmond employees, 2026

                      1. 1Donovan DeciousPolice Lieutenant · Richmond$632,999
                      2. 2Nathan LonsoPolice Sergeant · Richmond$610,881
                      3. 3Bisa FrenchPolice Chief · Richmond$588,805
                      4. 4Miguel CastilloPolice Sergeant · Richmond$530,660
                      5. 5William RoderickPolice Officer · Richmond$525,827
                      6. 6Florencio RiveraPolice Lieutenant · Richmond$505,426
                      7. 7Joseph EnglandPolice Lieutenant · Richmond$469,839
                      8. 8Daniel ReinaPolice Lieutenant · Richmond$462,362
                      9. 9Kinshasa CurlCity Manager · Richmond$441,832
                      10. 10Donald PatchinPolice Lieutenant · Richmond$441,565

                      Highest paid in California State Controller's Office, 2025

                        Where this data comes from

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2024 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        • County of Los Angeles (Auditor-Controller)

                          Years we cover: 2016–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: lacounty.gov ↗

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        • Los Angeles City Controller

                          Years we cover: 2017–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: controller.lacity.gov ↗

                        • San Francisco Controller's Office

                          Years we cover: 2017–2026 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sf.gov ↗

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        • City of San Jose (Human Resources / Open Data)

                          Years we cover: 2019–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sanjoseca.gov ↗

                        • County of San Mateo (Controller's Office)

                          Years we cover: 2016–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: smcgov.org ↗

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        • City of Richmond, California (Finance / Transparent Richmond)

                          Years we cover: 2023–2026 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: ci.richmond.ca.us ↗

                        • California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California)

                          Years we cover: 2022–2025 · Matches the agency's latest release

                          Official website: sco.ca.gov ↗

                        Common questions

                        Are public employee salaries public in California?

                        Yes. California State Controller's Office (Government Compensation in California) and County of Los Angeles (Auditor-Controller) and Los Angeles City Controller and San Francisco Controller's Office and City of San Jose (Human Resources / Open Data) and County of San Mateo (Controller's Office) and City of Richmond, California (Finance / Transparent Richmond) publish public employee pay records. We collect them, add context, and link to the agency's official website.

                        How often is this updated?

                        California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027. California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027. California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027. California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027. California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027. California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027. California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027. LA County Auditor-Controller: the next update is expected in summer 2027. California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027. LA City Controller: the agency updates it every pay period. SF Controller's Office: the next update is expected after each fiscal year (July-June) and calendar year closes. California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027. City of San Jose: the next update is expected in spring 2027. San Mateo County: the next update is expected in spring 2027. California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027. City of Richmond: the agency updates it every pay period. California State Controller's Office: the next update is expected in late 2027.

                        Why can't I find someone?

                        We only cover the employers listed on this page. Some agencies withhold names for safety reasons (for example certain public-safety staff); those people count in the totals but are never named. Names are listed on each employer's page.